Memories of Luca

Born in May 1967, Luca is Luciano's younger brother. Twenty-one years younger, he arrived in the family of Ottavio and Rosa Sandrone when Luciano had completed military service and was already working at Marchesi di Barolo. When Luciano found out that his mother was expecting another child he was not entirely happy, but then time and the long journey made together made him change his mind. Who knows. Perhaps he had felt his privileges were being threatened, which in fact proved not to be the case.

"Indeed – Luca begins – after Luciano and Mariuccia's marriage and the birth of daughter Barbara, I was almost adopted by them. In fact I grew up together with Barbara as though we were both in a double family. When Luciano and Mariuccia worked, Barbara would stay with me at the grandparents' house and when they were at home I was often with them too. In this way I was able to share many phases of their life, right up to the start of Luciano's productive activity. The collaboration among us three siblings was always complete and so I created a fine synergy with both of them".
"Imagine that – Luca continues – the first barrel bought by Luciano, an 11-hectolitre oval barrel for ageing the Barolo, came from Bruno's father-in-law, together with a pump still in use for some marginal work. The bond with my siblings was always strong: both went to the mountains and influenced me in the choice of this passion too. Luciano was here in Barolo and Bruno – despite working in Turin – always maintained a good foothold in Langa. So I grew up under their protective wing".
"The support of Bruno – Luca specifies – was also important for Luciano in starting up his market. Working at Fiat in Turin, he had many contacts and made them available to Luciano, enabling him to start that word-of-mouth that characterised the first years of the new productive activity in Barolo".